November 17

Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink. — Luke 12:29

Worry makes a great deal of unhappiness in the world, and does a great deal of harm. Jesus says, too, that we need never to be anxious about anything. He gives reasons, also, why we should not be. We need not worry about food and raiment. God feeds the birds, and His children are more value than His birds. He clothes the lilies in matchless beauty, and we are certainly dearer to Him than the loveliest flowers.

Worry does not take away the things which trouble us. It unfits us for the best service. If our brain is feverish through anxiety, and our hand unsteady, we cannot do anything well. If we are really God’s children, we need not give ourselves any concern about the things we need. All we have to do is to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness – that is, do our simple duty, as it is made known to us – and then God will take care of us. We often concern ourselves about God’s care of us, while we neglect our duty to Him.